Natural Resources and Environmental Law Field Course August 12-19, 2017

Transcription

1 Professor Jerrold A. Long Office 202 Phone: (208) Natural Resources and Environmental Law Field Course August 12-19, 2017 Course Overview and Objectives One of the great advantages of our location in Moscow and Idaho is our proximity to the places where law happens on the ground. Our resource management and protection laws are best understood when grounded, and experienced, in their social, cultural, and ecological contexts. It is easy to think we understand the protection of endangered species (for example) in the abstract, but it is something different to understand how that protection might affect real places and landscapes, and people and economies, on the ground. Resources management is often as much about particular places and personalities as it is about technical legalities. This course will visit those places where law happens, meet the people that must implement the law, and connect directly with the resources affected (and perhaps effected) by our legal system. Perhaps as important, this course will also allow us to meet the people regulated by the law, and experience the importance of the relationship between the regulators and the regulated. Course Hazards or Risks Because this course, by necessity, occurs over a wide area, it requires a lot of driving on often bumpy gravel roads. We will cover over 1,500 miles round trip from Moscow. We will visit fish hatcheries, a timber sale project area on a national forest, the Teton River, and Yellowstone National Park. We will also be camping out every night. In addition to the risks inherent in travel, camping, and visiting these sites, we could experience severe weather, wild animals, and forest fires, among all of the other potential risks associated with long-distance travel and field work in the West. If you choose to participate in this course, you accept all of these risks, as well as any others not stated here, but consistent with a course of this nature. NOTE: in the last few years several students experienced some car sickness. If you are subject to car sickness, please come prepared. Course Logistics We will be staying at several different campgrounds across Idaho, and we will be cooking all of our food. Everyone in the class is expected to participate equally in meal preparation and clean 1

2 up. Please inform me immediately if you have any food allergies. The specific campgrounds are listed in the course schedule below. At the end of this syllabus is a list of suggested items to bring. We have two vans and should have plenty of room, but be reasonable about how much you bring. Your grade for the course will be based on three things: Final written version of NEPA Comments on Buffalo TSI (50%) turned in by Oct. 1 Group presentation of NEPA Comments (25%) date TBD Reflective journal entries ( words each) (25%) written after each of our days in field. o NOTE: while I expect you to write these each day, they will not be due to me until the Monday following the course, Aug. 21, by 5pm. Course Materials To be provided Current Schedule: Saturday, Aug. 12: Topic: Dams and salmon 8:30 am: Meet in the parking lot east of the Student Rec Center 9 am: leave to get to Lower Granite Dam by 10am CLOSED-TOE SHOES REQUIRED! 12 noon: Probably lunch en route, depending on length of tour. o BRING A LUNCH 4pm (MDT): Rapid River Fish Hatchery 7ish: Arrive at Cold Springs Campground near Banks, ID. Eve: Set-up camp and make dinner. Sunday, Aug. 13 (note: because of some upheaval in Dept. of the Interior, this visit might not occur): Topic: Wildfire management 8 am: On the road to Boise and the Interagency Fire Center (departure time subject to change) o ~ 1 hour 15 minute drive o Details forthcoming. Camp at Boise Riverside RV Park (due to the costs associated with this option, we need to minimize the number of tents we use. Please consider sleeping outside under a large tarp or sharing tents). 2

3 Monday, Aug. 14: Topic: Water resources management and aquifer recharge Departure time TBD: make lunches, leave for Idaho Department of Water Resources and meeting with Wesley Hipke (aquifer recharge program manager for IDWR), Ann Vonde (attorney for the Idaho Water Resources Board), and Marie Kellner (water associate for Idaho Conservation League). Travel to recharge site. Travel to next campground at Warm River (possible stops at Silver Creek Nature Conservancy Preserve and Craters of the Moon National Monument). Note: lots of driving today. Tuesday, Aug. 15: Topic: NEPA and forest management 9 am: depart camp for travel to office of the Island Park Ranger District 10 am: meet with Liz Davy (District Ranger) and Doug Herzog (Forest Planner) at office in Island Park, Targhee National Forest to talk about the Buffalo TSI, a timber thinning project on about 3,900 acres. Lunch, and then visit the project site Late Afternoon: Possible additional visits to Harriman State Park of Idaho and Mesa Falls. Showers possible at Henry s Lake State Park (17 mins north of Island Park). Wednesday, Aug. 16: Topic: National Park planning and legal compliance 9am: depart camp for Yellowstone National Park Meet with Alicia Murphy, acting branch chief of compliance and planning. Possible stop at Boiling River. Showers possible at Henry s Lake State Park (17 mins north of Island Park). Note: there will be a lot of driving today. Option for dinner out at either Pond s Lodge or Trout Hunter in Island Park. Class budget will pay for $10 per person for dinner (meals are somewhat expensive). Thursday, Aug. 17: Topic: River restoration 9am: leave camp for travel to Driggs, ID (approximately 60 minutes) Throughout day: Meet with Mike Lien, Sarah Lien, and Amy Verbeten at Friends of the Teton River to discuss fish and stream restoration. 3

4 o Day will include visits to restoration sites. Friday, Aug. 18: Topic: Ranching and salmon restoration 8am hit the road (Pack up early, ~ 5.5 hour drive to Beyeler Ranch) Beyeler Ranch near Leadore, Idaho (south of Salmon) to discuss ranching, salmon habitat and restoration, and private land conservation. Camp that night near Salmon. Saturday, Aug. 19: Drive to Moscow via Lolo Pass and the Lochsa River. 4

5 NREL Field Course Packing List: -sleeping bag -sleeping pad -pillow -tent -headlamp or flashlight -notebook/pen -mug/cup -silverware -plate/bowl -water bottle -hat/warm clothes for night -clothing in layers -toiletries/soap -sun protection: sunscreen/hat/sunglasses -daypack/bag -medications -shoes you are comfortable wearing in rough terrain -swimsuit -towel -Melitta coffee maker or press pot for coffee (optional we will have coffee and a small press pot, but if you like it made a special way, and coffee if important to you, bring your own maker). -musical instruments (optional) -Crazy Creek camp chair or something similar to sit on (optional) 5